No Way Out: Child marriage and human rights abuses in Tanzania

Tanzania’s Marriage Act of 1971 sets the minimum age at 18 for boys and 15 for girls with parental consent. It also allows boys and girls to marriage at age 14 with a court’s approval. Human Rights Watch analyzed the child protection measures available in Tanzania and found them in great need of reform.

This report documents how child marriage severely limits girls’ access to education and exposes them to exploitation and violence. Not only is there a risk that the girl’s new husband will not allow her to continue attending school, pregnant girls are not allowed to continue their education. Child marriage also puts girls and women at greater risk of sexual and gender-based violence.

Human Rights Watch calls on the Tanzanian government to work toward comprehensive reform of marriage and divorce laws, including adjusting the minimum marriage age to 18. Pregnancy testing should also no longer be allowed in schools and all children should be given the opportunity to attend school regardless of their Primary School Leaving Examinations.